Abdul-Rehman Malik 104 Whittier Road Award-winning journalist, educator and cultural New Haven, CT USA 06515 organizer working at the intersection of faith, [email protected] culture and social justice https://about.me/abdulrehmanmalik

Education and Professional Development

2017 Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellow at Yale University ▪ Member of the 2017 Class of Yale’s Greenberg World Fellows Program – Yale’s flagship leadership development program – bringing together 16 accomplished, mid-career, global leaders to Yale for a four-month immersive transformational journey ▪ Awarded in recognition of designing, implementing and leading high-impact, innovative changemaking initiatives and excellence in reporting and storytelling around belief and faith in the modern world ▪ Responsibilities included delivering seminars, roundtables and lectures focusing on areas of expertise; exploring areas of interest and developing new projects and initiatives

2016 El-Hibri Foundation (Washington, DC) Public Narrative Training Fellow ▪ Completed intensive program how best to utilize public narrative methodology in building successful campaigns with Dr. Marshall Ganz/Harvard Kennedy School team

2012 – 2013 Inaugural Fellow, Cambridge Coexist Leadership Programme ▪ Inter-faith leadership training and fellowship program designed for experienced activists and religious leaders to encourage greater collaboration and religious literacy; held under the auspices of Cambridge University’s Inter-Faith Programme and then Professor David Ford

2003 – 2005 MSc in Social Policy (Voluntary Sector Organisation) with Merit, London School of Economics and Political Science ▪ Dissertation: “The UK Muslim Voluntary Sector and its Engagement with Public Policy Processes” – an innovative study of a community based development organization over a 30 year period of policy advocacy

1997 – 1998 B.Ed., Intermediate/Senior Division (History and Politics), Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto

1993 – 1997 B.A. Hons, Political Science and Middle East and Islamic History, with Distinction, University of Toronto

1995 – Statement on Studies in the Islamic Ulum al-Din Present • Private and independent study of the core Islamic sacred disciplines – theology, jurisprudence and Sufism – through a traditional methodology of textual study with a qualified teach or authority in the respective discipline. Texts have been studied both in the original languages and in translation. Core teachers have possessed ijazahs – the formal permission of their own teachers to teach – and thus, have preserved the classical approach to Islamic education. This study has been in addition my academic study of Islam, my deep engagement with Muslim communities and my work to chronicle contemporary Muslims and Islam.

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Professional Experience

2019 – Present Lecturer and Associate Research Fellow, School of Divinity, Yale University • Developed and taught “Islam: Tradition, Encounter, Challenge” (REL 987; Spring 2019)

2019 – 2020 Lecturer, Department of English, Yale University • Co-teaching Yale College Senior English Seminar on “Shakespeare and Religion” with George M. Bodman Professor of English Dr. David Kastan (Spring 2020) • Co-teaching Graduate Seminar on “Shakespeare and Religion” with George M. Bodman Professor of English Dr. David Kastan (Spring 2019)

2018 – Present Postgraduate Associate and Outreach Coordinator, Council on Middle East Studies, MacMillan Center for International and Areas Studies, Yale University • Special faculty level appointment to engage in research and build on areas of interest and expertise namely exploring the future of countering violent extremism policy, examining the changing theologies of political change and investigating the intersection between religion and cultural production in search of an “Islamic avant-garde” • Designing and convening practical, skill-based workshop series for educators, high school and community college students on approaches to reconciliation and resilience in conflict geographies teaching ways in which storytelling and can be used in developing peaceful dialogue and conflict mitigation • Managing US Department of Education Title VI grant’s outreach and public school partnerships; working in collaboration with Yale University’s Office of New Haven and State Affairs

2018 – Present Director, Social Justice Leadership Lab, Dwight Hall at Yale, Center for Public Service and Social Justice • Designing, teaching and facilitating a pilot leadership program aimed at self-identifying Muslim students at Yale University with an aim to building the context, confidence and skills of participants to become leaders for the common good • Leading a successful national fundraising drive and partnership building exercise with philanthropists across the United States to support the program • Facilitating a university-based coalition of partners to support the initiative including Dwight Hall, Yale Chaplain’s Office and the Office of the Vice-President of Student Affairs

2019 – Present Host, This Being Human Podcast by The Aga Khan Museum Toronto with Antica Productions • Featuring profiles of individuals speaking to the kaleidoscope of the contemporary Muslim experience; to be released June 2020

2018 – 2019 Mentor-in-Residence, Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale • Mentoring and assisting students in developing innovative projects, social enterprises or gaining skills necessary for creative, entrepreneurial endeavors as part of a Yale- wide center promoting innovation • Developing and delivering in-house workshops and training programs to support learning and skill building; working in partnerships with groups and institutions across campus

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2017 – 2019 Program Co-Design and Lead Co-Facilitator, CERITA Initiative in partnership with Google.org (Indonesia) • Secured and currently managing a $300,000 USD grant from Tides Foundation initiated by Google.org • Designed, implemented and delivered a “train the trainers” program aimed at providing 18-25 year old community-based Indonesia leaders and activists narrative and storytelling tools to imagine new definitions of national and local identity and address experience of prejudice, xenophobia and social rupture in 5 cities that have been the site of interreligious conflict • Working in partnership with the Habibie Centre, the Cerita project was designed as an interfaith and intercultural space, building on pedagogies drawn from Public Narrative, Theatre of the Oppressed, Transformational Pedagogy and Best Practice in Interfaith Dialogue • On-going mentorship of the participants and guiding the replication of the storytelling workshops with a launch slated for March 2018 • Advising on the digital platform being created to “map” stories and amplify narrative online

2016 – Present Program Consultant & Facilitator, 6 Degrees Citizen Space, Institute of Canadian Citizenship • Designed and facilitated “coffeehouse” dialogue sessions in Toronto, Calgary, Berlin, Montreal and The Hague for an innovative global leadership conference, creating a space for 100+ global participants to discuss contemporary challenges that engendered deep dialogue and solution- focused collaboration • Mentored “young fellows” – innovative doers – whose initiatives address peacebuilding and increase understanding along social, political and religious faultlines. Assisted in ways they could make their work more effective and have greater impact. • Co-designed and facilitated closing plenary sessions allowing for hundreds of participants to contribute to the future direction of 6 Degrees programs

2005 – Present Programs Manager, Radical Middle Way (London, UK) • Primary responsibility for securing, negotiating contracts for and effectively managing budgets over £2 million and liaising with UK and international funders and an UK & global team of 15 people • Planned and managed groundbreaking and impactful interventions to promote faith based narratives of civic engagement, social action and countering violent extremism in the UK, Indonesia, Sudan, Pakistan, Mali, Morocco and Malaysia • Pioneered a core strand of arts and cultural programs to engage with young audiences, creating safe spaces for dialogue and debate and encouraging new artistic expressions • Pioneered initiatives like “Storytelling Somalia” – a capacity building co-lab for young Somali diaspora creatives, involved mentoring, narrative training supported by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations • Consortium partner in developing IMPACT Europe – an online toolkit for evaluating countering violent extremism interventions working along side partners civil society, think tank and corporate partners from 12 countries • Developing capacity building programs with Google in South East Asia to assist content creators to tackle violent extremist narratives • Pioneered fresh approaches to inter-faith and intercultural action – with a strong emphasis on engaging with young people and young leaders – including the Urban

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Dialogues arts collaboration with Three Faiths Forum; and Christian-Muslim advocacy on religious freedom and human rights for minority faiths

2015 – 2017 Director of Programs & Interim Managing Director, SeekersHub (Toronto, Canada) • Leading a global team to design and organize on-ground learning programs, that address relevant issues facing Muslim and other faith communities with an emphasis on contextual spirituality and theology • Increased online engagement to 1.2 million unique users from 600,000 • Designed and implemented a program-based annual fundraising campaign which increased surpassed set targets • Organizing tours for emerging religious leaders and scholars – women and men – in South Africa, Australia, Canada, the UK, Malaysia and Singapore • Responsible for managing the strategic direction of the organization and improving work processes for a global team, in particular supporting the development department in meeting the organization’s financial goals

2010 – Present Journalist & Presenter, TBI Radio for the British Broadcasting Corporation - BBC (London, UK) • Dedicated to telling exceptional, narrative changing and high impact stories about contemporary faith and its intersection with arts, culture and the lived experience • Featured essayist for BBC Radio 3’s special Holy Week 2019 series on Christ entitled “Behold the Man” • Regular contributor to “Pause for Thought”, an award-winning segment on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show, offering compelling reflections on ethics and spirituality • Presenting six-episodes in 2017/2018 of “Something Understood”, a long-running Radio 4 morning program, featuring authored pieces on ethical and moral dilemmas, including the idea of radical mercy and whether mistakes can be considered blessed • Four feature documentaries commissioned by Radio 4 and the World Service since 2016: o The God of Hip Hop: an exploration of the intersection between Islam and Hip Hop, focusing on grassroots artists and its often ignored British history; o Imams in the Vatican: the story of trainee imams and scholars - women and men – from the Cambridge Muslim College as they study Christianity from the inside out at the Vatican; o The Muhammadan Bean - The Secret History of Islam and Coffee (winner of the New York Festivals Best of World Radio Silver Medal): a Radio 4 “doc of the week” telling the incredible story of how Muslim civilization globalized coffee and established it as a social beverage that literally changed the world; and o Finding Allah at 33rpm: a personal essay chronicling my search for what makes music sacred • Other documentaries include Faith and 9/11 (BBC, 2011), awarded a Sandford St Martin Trust Award for its exploration of 9/11 ten years later through the voices of people of many faiths – artists, poets, clergy; and Islam without God (BBC, 2012), which explored the rise of doubt and new faith identities from London to Cairo (New York Festivals Best of World Radio Silver Medal); Ramadan at Ground Zero (CBC, 2002) which looked at New York City’s embattled Muslim community in the aftermath of 9/11 and was nominated for a Peabody Award

2003 – 2007 Contributing Editor, Q-News – The Muslim Magazine (London, UK) • Served as core editorial staff of of Britain’s only independent Muslim current affairs magazines, which from 1992-2007 offered analysis, critique, and review of politics, culture and spirituality through Muslim eyes 4

• Led the programming team in addressing issues such as diversity, multiculturalism, Jewish-Muslim relations and human rights through regular public events

1997 – Present Freelance Media Contributor • To CNN, The New York Times, Sky News, BBC World Television, BBC Radio, openDemocracy.net, CBC Radio, CBC Television, Sydney Morning Herald, Christian Science Monitor, RTE, altmuslim.com, Eurozine, Lettre Internationale, Green Futures, OpenCanada.org, ABC and others • Served as Spirituality

Voluntary Leadership

2019 – Present Member, Steering Committee, Retreat Center Collaboration convened by the Fetzer Institute • Involved in directing the RCC, a three-year effort to understand and connect spiritual retreat centers and their allies across North America and creating space for retreat centers to address challenges and opportunities as a sector 2016 – Present Advisor, Five Oaks Education & Retreat Centre (Paris, Ontario) and Kirkridge Retreat & Study Center (Bangor, PA) • Initiated a strategic re-evaluation of the mission of two historic, progressive Christian retreat centers (sister sites) in Canada and the United States and how better they could engage with diverse faith and cultural communities • Convened consultation with Muslim communities and center leadership to build trust and propose practical ways to move forward a renewed interreligious and intercultural mission • Currently fundraising for program support to begin pilot initiatives that would grow the renewed mission

2015 – 2018 Trustee, Sandford St Martin Trust (London, UK) • Core member of the governing body of the UK’s only charitable trust dedicated to promoting excellence in broadcasting about religion; assisting in running the annual awards program

2014 – 2018 Trustee, Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto (Toronto, Canada) • Set strategy and exercise organizational oversight over Canada’s only full-time Muslim chaplaincy program with chaplains soon to be at three university campuses • Assist in key program design and delivery with an emphasis on building long-term donor and community leadership support for chaplaincy programming

1996 - 2003 Coordinator, Deen Intensive Program & Founder and Chair, Ihya Foundation • Facilitated the development of a curriculum based on classical Islamic spiritual pedagogy for a culturally diverse student group • Organized ongoing annual international educational retreat program for 120+ participants and local sister programs across North America • Found and directed vibrant, new community and educational development foundation • Promoted peace, civil liberties and active citizenship in the aftermath of September 11 by initiating broad-based awareness projects to address issues of racism, Islamophobia and promote equality for all

Arts and Culture

2015 – Present Festival Director, Insight Film Festival (London/Manchester, UK)

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• Leading a UK-based international film festival, which celebrates the intersection between faith and film, encouraging filmmakers of all faiths and none to turn their creativity to the subject of faith; also supporting emerging filmmakers • Managing and oversight over two student filmmaker award programs delivered with support from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Jesuits of the United Kingdom • Curating a regular program of screenings in London and Manchester in collaboration with the Rich Mix Arts Centre and Manchester University’s Screen Studies Programme

2016 – Present Creative Advisor and Festival Co-Curator, “Othello”, English Touring Theatre (London, UK) • Developed, alongside the Director, the creative approach to Othello, including examining how to interpret the text; developing a new opening scene; working on dramaturgy; training and assisting actors and developing sensitivity to religious language and practice • Curated a festival of artistic responses from artists of color and Muslim cultural producers to “Othello” at Wilton’s Music Hall including videography, photography, hip- hop, new of theater, panel discussions and instrumental music from Muslim diasporas • Hosted and co-produced a 5-part podcast series entitled “The Othello Project” creating a platform to look at Othello through the lenses of history, interpretation, race, gender, religion, sexuality and politics

2016 – Present Advisor/Consultant, Amal Fund, Said Foundation UK • Advising on the creation of the first dedicated UK-based fund supporting Muslim cultures and arts, and cultural producers who explore Muslim themes and identities; and taking a lead role in developing major partnerships • Reappointed as a Senior Advisor in 2018

2014 – Present Co-Convener, Foundation for Muslim Culture • Working to establish a global network committed to supporting cutting edge Muslim cultural production, building cultural capital locally and globally and developing cultural strategies based on an expanding knowledge base

2011 – 2017 Program Consultant, Cheltenham Literature Festival • Working with the Head of Programming to present, deliver and facilitate highly popular and engaging sessions on multiculturalism, British identity, faith, art and Islam

2009 - Present Program Advisor, Greenbelt Festival • Designing and organizing sessions at Europe’s largest progressive Christian festival showcasing Muslim thinkers, musicians and activists to encourage encounter and dialogue between faiths, generating productive exchange and conversation

1997 – Present Freelance Program Consultant • Offer strategic and hands-on program implementation to the Southbank Center, Rich Mix Arts East London, Bradford Literature Festival, MOCAFest/World Islamic Economic Forum and others

Selected Teaching Outside of Higher Education

2004 – 2014 Program Design and Co-Facilitator, Creative Youth Identity Workshops (London, UK) • Designed and co-facilitated workshops exploring spiritual, social, political and cultural identities through theater and drama work and film 6

• Worked directly with young people (ages 16-24) addressing personal journeys, and interpersonal leadership skills by understanding individual needs • Co-produced student-led film projects and assisted in screening at festivals and in interfaith and intercultural spaces and venues

2003 – 2004 Coordinator, Youth Leadership Program, Wembley, Middlesex, UK • Designed an innovative three-term leadership program for A-level Muslim students focusing on issues of identity and public service

1999 - 2003 History and Dramatic Arts Teacher, Erindale Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada • Taught a wide range of courses including Grade 9/10 Drama, Grade 10 Civics and Canadian History, Grade 11 American History and Grade 12 European History and Civilization • Convened religious services and conducted counseling, advisory sessions and learning programs for a growing population of Muslim students, largely drawn from new immigrant communities • Designed innovative teaching strategies to implement new curriculum guidelines creating dynamic learning environments • Encouraged a multidisciplinary approach to knowledge by integrating drama-based activities into the history and civics classroom Emphasized practical and purposeful activism by creating new units of study at all levels exploring issues of civil rights, conflict resolution and anti-racism

2001- 2003 Drama Facilitator, Toronto Responses for Youth – A City of Toronto Initiative • Created several workshops using drama and theatre to deal with social justice issues, emerging identities and racism with Toronto youth leaders

1999 - 2001 Assistant Director, Dar al Islam Foundation Teachers' Institute, Abiquiu, NM • Coordinated a two-week long institute for North American educators specializing in history and world religions

Selected Publications

Summer Editor and Co-Author, Proposed Book (currently under publisher consideration) entitled The 2021 Othello Project

Fall 2020 “Dangerous Ideas: Cultural Production, Cultural Leadership and the Muslim Atlantic” in Critical Muslim 35: The Muslim Atlantic (Hurst and Co.) (https://www.criticalmuslim.io/about-us/); Mandaville, Peter and DeHanas, Dan (eds).

June 2018 Feature Interview on Hawaii Public Radio: “What is Muslim Culture? You’d Be Surprised” • http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/post/what-muslim-culture-you-d-be-surprised

December The Yale Politic Journal Interview 2017 • http://thepolitic.org/an-interview-with-abdul-rehman-malik-storyteller-activist-and- cultural-organizer/

November “Tell Stories that Heal Not Harm”, OpenCanada.org 2017 • https://www.opencanada.org/features/walls-need-go-ideas-more-inclusive- world/#tell-the-stories-that-heal-not-harm

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February “A Moor for Our Time”, Playbill for Othello (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory & English 2017 Touring Theatre)

2008 “Hardwired for Globalization”, Introductory Essay in Testing the Echo: A Play by David Edgar (London: Nick Hern Books)

Selected Speaking Engagements

November Speaker, Facebook Community Boost (National Conference of Facebook Communities) 2018 • Delivering a Masterclass on Building Resilient Communities, co-organized by Online Civil Courage Initiative

September Chair, Panel Launching Report on “The Islamic Tradition and Human Rights Discourse”, The 2018 Atlantic Council, Washington DC • https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/events/past-events/rethinking-human-rights-and- islam

March 2018 Panel Discussion on “An Ordinary Muslim”, New York Theatre Workshop in connection with the world premiere of their new work of the same name

February “How to be an American Muslim”, in conversation with author Haroon Moghul, Yale Club of New 2018 York City

February “Rethinking Radicalism”, Keynote Presentation at Yale Interagency Symposium on 2018 Counterterrorism, Jackson Institute of Global Affairs, Yale University

November Guest Sermons, Friday Prayer Service, Yale University, Battell Chapel 2017 – • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fZXje_qQOo Present

June 2017 Guest Teacher, Westminster Abbey • Topic: Engaging Difficult Texts; presented on interfaith relations in the Qur’an

November Keynote Speaker & Panelist, Rising Global Peace Forum, Coventry, UK 2016 • Delivered keynote on evaluating effectiveness of counter terrorism programs; mentored participants of a “hackathon” designing new approaches to tackle violent extremist movements; and spoke on an academic panel about developing community approaches to countering violent extremism • Invited by the Government of Australia as a noted international expert

June 2015 Speaker, International Summit on Countering Violent Extremism hosted by the Government of Australia, Sydney

March 2008 Speaker, “The Challenges and Opportunities of Nationality, Nationalism and Cultural Identity”, Skoll World Forum, Oxford University UK • http://archive.skoll.org/session/skoll-world-forum-2008/the-challenges-and-opportunities- of-nationality-nationalism-and-cultural-identity/

Awards & Nominations

June 2018 Artist-in-Residence, Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design (Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art), Honolulu, Hawaii

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• Designed and delivered a series of programs and new artistic storytelling work on the theme of “What is Muslim Culture?” as part of a prestigious arts residency • Developed in partnership with a number of Hawaii-based cultural and arts organizations (https://www.shangrilahawaii.org/residencies/artists-in- residence/abdul-rehman-malik/)

October Nomination for Best Presenter – Speech, Audio Production Awards UK 2018 2018 • Award for exceptional on-air talent presenting speech programs demonstrating compelling conversation, high production values, brilliant interviews, a sustained contribution to the genre, outstanding creativity and deep-rooted connection to the audience

May 2017 Silver Radio Winner, The New York Festival’s International Radio Programme Award • Awarded to “The Muhammadan Bean: The Secret History of Islam and Coffee” (BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service) for best History Program

May 2013 Silver Radio Winner, The New York Festival’s International Radio Programme Award • Awarded to “Islam Without God” (BBC Radio 4) for best Religious Program

May 2012 Runner Up Award, Best Radio Program, Sandford St Martin Television and Radio Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting about Religion • Awarded to “Faith and 9/11 (BBC Radio 2) – a in-depth look at coming to terms with the tragedy of 9/11 through the lens of faith and spirituality across the world

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